On October 4th, the Latvia Puppet Theatre will celebrate its 80th birthday with a series of events tailored for theatre professionals and enthusiasts alike. Over the course of four days, internationally acclaimed theatre professionals and educators will convene in Latvia to conduct masterclasses, delve into contemporary theatre ideas during a two-day conference, and deliver captivating guest performances for Latvian and international theatre enthusiasts.
The “WHERE TO GO?” program will unfold from October 1st to 4th at the Latvia Puppet Theatre, the Latvian Academy of Culture, the Art Academy of Latvia, and the Rainis and Aspazija House. The first two days will focus on practical training, featuring three workshops: “Dramaturgy of Devised and Object Theatre” (by Sodja Zupanc-Lotker from the Czech Republic), designed for playwrights and theatre critics; “Ecoscenography Workshop” (by Tanja Beer from Australia), tailored for set designers and artists; and “Narrative Work with Limited Material Source. I Am the Story ” (by Ishmael Falke and Anna Ivanova-Brasinska from Finland), open to actors and directors. Each workshop will span two full days.
The centerpiece of the program, the international conference “Contemporary (Puppet) Theatre: Where to Go?” on October 3rd and 4th, will unite local and international audiences. Esteemed speakers from Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Czech Republic, Belgium, Peru, and Australia will gather in the Latvia Puppet Theatre to explore the current state and future prospects of the theatre and puppetry industry.
In addition to the masterclasses and conference, the Kaunas State Puppet Theatre will enrich the program with a special guest performance of “Lion and the Bird” (suitable for ages 3+) on October 1st, while the Finnish contemporary puppet theatre company Grus Grus Theatre will present “Invisible Lands” (recommended for ages 12+) on October 3rd. Both performances are language-free, ensuring accessibility to audiences worldwide.
As part of its 80th birthday celebration, the Latvia Puppet Theatre will unveil a unique production – on October 2nd “The Legendary Play” by Vija Blūzma, Edgars Kaufelds, and Mārtiņš Eihe will have its premiere. This production will delve into the life and artistry of Tina Herzberg, the visionary director and artistic director of the Latvia Puppet Theatre, while exploring the essence of the award-winning 1967 production “Interlellis-67”.
For more information about the anniversary program’s events, visit teatrakonference.lv. Tickets for all events are now available on bilesuparadize.lv, but hurry, as places for masterclasses, conference sessions, and guest performances are strictly limited.
The event programme is implemented with the financial support of the Latvia Puppet Theatre, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, the State Culture Capital Foundation and the Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme “Culture”.
More information: https://www.teatrakonference.lv/home/
